The Elite 89 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at a finals site for each of the NCAA’s 89 championships.

Kottkamp is the fourth Elite 89 recipient from Notre Dame to receive recognition at an NCAA Championship, joining Michael Shipp (men’s soccer, 2013), Tyler Brenneman (men’s lacrosse, 2012) and Colleen Rielley (women’s tennis, 2010). She posted a 4.000 grade-point average as an environmental sciences major in the College of Science to earn Elite 89 honors.

A two-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National-Scholar Athlete (2013 and 2014), Kottkamp is competing as a member of the Notre Dame first varsity eight at the NCAA Championship for the second straight season. She was also named to the all-BIG EAST second team in 2013 as a member of Notre Dame’s 10th consecutive BIG EAST Championship winning team.